Improvement in desk slate-holders



M. M. RICE & J. LABAR. Desk Slate-Holder.

Patented June 4, 1878.

WITNESSES: %%d

' ATTORNEYS.

N.PETERS. PHDTD-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHXNGTON, O C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MOSES M. RICE AND JESSE LABAR, OF SLATINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN DESK SLATE-HOLDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 204,505, dated June 4, 1878; application filed March 11, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Mosns M. Bron and JESSE LABAR, of Slatington, in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have i11- vented a new and Improved Desk Slate- Holder, of which the following is a specification:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved desk. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line as ain Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3 y in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on line 2 z in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the slate-frame.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

The object of our invention is to provide a convenient device for holding school slates, pencils, &c.; and it consists in a desk having a divided and hinged top, in which there is a recess containing a hinged frame, in which is pivoted the slate.

Referring to the drawing, A is an inclined desk-top, which is made in two parts, a. b. The lower part a is secured permanently to the frame of the desk, and the part b, which is thinner than the part a, is hinged to the said part a, and is recessed at c to receive the frame at and slate e. The frame 01 is hinged to the part b, and may be raised up into a vertical position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The frame of the slate e is provided with pivots or trunnions f, one at each edge of the frame. One of these pivots is received by a hole, g, in the frame at. The other pivot is received by a curved slot, h, in the opposite side of the frame d.

By raising the frame d from the recess in the part b the slate may be turned on its pivot; or it may be removed from the frame d altogether by first lifting the pivot out of the curved slot h.

The bottom of the recesses a formed in the top of the desk may be lined with cloth or other soft material, to prevent noise in handling the slate e. The arrangement of the frame at is the same for both ends of the desk, when the desk is intended for two persons.

Between the. two recesses a cavity, 2', is formed, for the reception of slate-pencils and other small articles. This cavity is covered by a sliding cover, j.

When the slates are not in use, the part b of the desk-top is folded down upon a thin board, It, and the desk-top has the appearance of an ordinary top. When the slates are to be used, the part b is folded over on the part a, as represented in Fig. 1.

It is obvious that the frame d may be arranged to fold at right angles to the part b. The pivots of the slate-frame may be placed at the ends of the frame, and may slide in slots at the ends of the frame d. A bolt, 1, keeps the frame din its place in the recess 0.

The advantages gained by our improvement are that the noise usually made in handling the slate is avoided, and the slate is always held in a convenient position for use.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The desk-top having a hinged and reoessed portion, 12, and the adjustable slate c, in combination, substantially as shown and described.

2. The frame d, adapted to hold the pivoted slate e, in combination with the hinged portion 12 of the desk-top A, substantially as shown and described.

MOSES M. RICE. JESSE LABAR.

Witnesses J. F. KRESS, D. D. RoPER. 

